In Canada, you get a year. A YEAR. It is only 55% of your salary, but employers will often top it up if you commit to returning for at least a year after you return.

You are also legally entitled to have an equal position if you return after the year.

The leave is also available to EITHER the Mom or the Dad.

Seriously.

In addition, if you have a complicated pregnancy, and are put on “medical leave”, you get paid for that until you give birth.

This is only for those who are “employees”, as opposed to “self-employed”, but still. We have it pretty good up here.

The mat leave policy in the States is just abysmal and uncivilized.

With my first child, I returned to work at 6 weeks. My first day back - had to travel to New York for a business trip. So, I had to bank 100 oz of milk by the time she was 6 weeks old! I wrote about the whole experience here: http://organizedmommy.blogspot.com/2006/07/juggling-business-trip-with-small-baby.html

With my second baby, I had 6 weeks of paid leave (at ~60% of my normal pay). I took the next 6 weeks at half time (we couldn’t really afford unpaid leave). Also, during my mat leave, I had to COBRA our healthcare benefits. So, that added another $2600 out of pocket expense.

Canada, Sweden, and many other developed countries give mothers at least a year of leave at some level of pay. I really think 6 months would be a reasonable minimum, 1 year would be a nice luxury.

I didn’t have any paid leave. I took six months unpaid from my full-time job, which turned into a year (because I worked for a school district, the policies mandated up to a year off with my job guaranteed to be waiting for me when I returned, which I realize was very lucky, even though it was all unpaid). Then, my husband got a new job in a different town, so when we moved, I left that job forever (without ever returning). During this entire time, however, I was working part-time at my own business, an evening solo psychotherapy practice (I’m a clinical psychologist). So, I did have some money coming in from my own extra work, but no paid maternity leave.

I’ve always been angry about this situation. I think it’s inexcusable that the U.S. falls so behind other countries when it comes to paid maternity/family leave. It’s shameful.

There are a few interesting theories on why maternity leave is the way it is in the US: Some say that American feminism has focused on equal rights, not on maternity rights; others point out that, post World War II, other countries put into place incentives to encourage population growth that the US didn’t want or need; still others assume that American companies simply aren’t willing to foot the bill.

A proposal in NJ funded paid dependent care leave via a payroll deduction last year. Interesting discussion about whether that’s a fair way to fund it (I think so): http://tinyurl.com/conqvg

I think some of the commentary related to this post are misguided at best. First, not all US citizens are eligible for FMLA, and most companies will not negotiate or be flexbile regarding time off after the birth of a child. What are part-time workers, blue-collar workers, and those who work for small companies supposed to do? Not work? Come on, let’s be realistic.
Perhaps some people have also overlooked the fact that not all women/families have the financial ability to plan ahead for pregnancy. In a perfect world we all would have that ability, but sadly there is rather a large portion of our society that do not have “professional” level jobs that enable them to take leave. It is rather elitist to assume that because you could fund your maternity leave that all women are subject to the same conditions. Secondly, the financial meltdown we are now experiencing is resulting in massive layoffs and soaring unemployment rates will only create more of a stranglehold on the average working family.
Also, the correct term is “socialized” medicine. Socialized programs are a far call from “socialism” in the derogatory sense it was used. Our lack of socialized healthcare and family planning programs has resulted in our citizens being faced with insurmountable hospital bills, outrageous day care bills and other costs. Let’s not get all high and mighty and say that immigrants are happy to be here because of our “superior” system of fleecing average citizens. In real numbers, US citizens pay more out of their own pockets than it would cost in tax deductions by the government.
Personally, I have worked and lived abroad for the past 4 years in the Czech Republic (a former Communist country mind you). Their social system supports paid maternity (7 months garaunteed for Mother/Father), and up to 4 years job security for women should they choose to take a longer leave from work. In their culture, family is first and it is an honor to take maternity leave, where as in the US it is often looked down upon by employers. Our country claims that we care so much about families, but in the end we do not support care and resources for families.
Recently I returned to the US and am appalled at the lack of services in our wealthy nation. For a nation and culture that claims we are strong on family values, we do little to support families and working mothers.

I’m getting twelve weeks of partial-pay maternity leave, and although I know that’s generous compared to many other states, I still can’t believe how little that is and how quickly it passes. Luckily, my employer has been generous in allowing me even more time off if I need it, but that will have to be unpaid, which means I’ll probably have to go back as soon as my paid time is up. Boo. What I wouldn’t give to live in Canada.

OMG, this issue makes me so angry. I took leave under my employer’s Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which basically terms pregnancy as a DISABILITY, during which your job is protected, but you are not paid. This is 12 weeks, and includes any time before and after combined (I worked literally one week before I gave birth). I was “allowed” to use up all of my own sick and vacation days in order to keep getting some form of wage during this time, but what if I didn’t have any sick or vacation days? And now that I’ve used those up, I have none when it is time to return to work (when baby is 3 months old and constantly getting sick in daycare). I was traumatized to have to return to work at this time. And yes, I did manage to continue breastfeeding this whole time, and I pumped at work (fortunately I was able to shut my door, but what of all the women out there who don’t have privacy??). I agree, this is a BARBARIC and inhumane set-up and must change. As always, everything comes down to MONEY (i.e., the companies and the gov’t save some by not providing this most basic right). ALL of us should be Protesting this and demanding change! Hopefully the Obama administration will address it.

Another interesting thing to compare would be the average number of kids that working moms have in the various countries. My uneducated guess would be that it’s relatively high in the US.

I see the rather scathing review of my initial comment, and all I can say is, one’s mindset determines how one defines many things. Like choice, for example. And need. Some don’t believe it’s a choice to make a mistake or not plan for the future. I do. Also, some people think it’s a “need” to have certain things that I don’t consider needs - and since I don’t consider them needs, I don’t believe the government has any business subsidizing them.

The cost of all these programs can’t be pulled out of the air. There is only so much you can bleed from the Bill Gates-es of the world. Money that is going to a family that didn’t plan is largely coming from a family that did plan. As I said before, I value the ability to plan my life over the ability to get subsidized according to a political decision. In this country, based on past experience, that political decision would involve a disproportionate amount of funds going to people of certain racial and ethnic groups and people who didn’t bother to use the educational opportunities made available to them. Like most US subsidies, my kids wouldn’t get a penny of it, and I (a single mom) might not be able to spend much time with my kids, on account of the increased taxes I’d have to pay. If you think that’s fair, you and I have completely different philosophies. We are all entitled to our opinions.

The key word is PAID. FMLA covers only those who work at a business with 50 or more employees, right? If you are covered, your employer has to give you a job at the end of your leave, but not the same job. (Does it have to be at the previous rate of pay?)

Thank goodness I live in California, where we get six weeks paid disability after the birth of a child, and an additional six weeks paid Family Leave (which is funded by employees, not employers).

I do envy those in Canada, though. For more than just this reason, but particularly this one.

I get so tired of hearing how great Canadian health care is that I could….well, never mind! There are many reasons that I wouldn’t approve of a year off maternity leave. The first one would be that I don’t want my taxes any higher than they already are. That money you get paid to stay home has to come from somewhere. Ask a Canadian how high their taxes are on EVERYTHING and why they not only come to the US to shop, but for medical reasons that they get sick of waiting for.

The other “main” reason is that I feel sorry for an employer who has to try and fill a job for only one year. For someone looking for a job, they want a job and not a one year job. Someone seriously looking for work wants to be hired to know that job will be theirs. You also aren’t always “promised” that you will get the same job you had when you go back. What if you liked that job and it would just go to someone else because face it, a year is a long time.

Do I feel bad that someone has to go back to work so soon? Sure I do but that’s the kind of preparing you have to do if you want to join the workforce after becoming a mother or father. I think one year off is a ridiculous idea. I feel it puts your employer and the person who steps in to do your job in a bad spot. It’s your decision to have a baby and you have to take responsibility for that choice and not put others on the line to do so.

Tiera, that is always an option. There is always the option of becoming a stay at home mom, if one has a spouse or savings account that can support mom and kids. I hope you’re not suggesting that the government should pay for that too.

It just seems to me that supplying basic needs for a family is not the role of government. If we are going to start paying for the needs of new moms and their babies, where do we draw the line?

I think the real reason behind the FMLA isn’t to provide for basic private needs, but to prevent employers from discriminating against employees who take off work to have a baby - up to a point. If it were longer, subtle discrimination, in the form of denying jobs to women of childbearing age, would most likely increase. And frankly, I’m not sure that wouldn’t be warranted. A long maternity leave is basically a matter of a mom choosing to be a SAHM on a temporary basis. If you want to be a stay-at-home mom, then it’s your business to rearrange your life to allow for it. It should not be at the expense of moms who choose differently. And if the belief is that it’s always wrong for moms to return to work before, say, 6 months, would you like to see legislation prohibiting companies from allowing moms to come back sooner? No? We always want everything both ways, don’t we?

Very few people here want to acknowledge that there is a burden on businesses that have to adjust for / pay for maternity leave. Or, that we should care about that burden because ultimately we pay for it one way or the other. Is it because we see business owners as all being rich white men? What if your boss was a single mom like me, without the means to hire and train people on a temporary basis, and working late to pick up the slack when employees take off work? For the record, my company provides exceptional maternity benefits, but this comes at a very significant cost directly to the owners. Not all companies can afford it.

Since my company is smaller than 20 people I got NOTHING for maternity leave. I got to take all 4 weeks of my vacation which I saved up, a few sick days that I earned, and I collected disability which was $175 per week for 5 weeks. I stayed out for 4 months and was very poor when I went back.

Wow, SKL, you really don’t have a clue! What a Utopian (and scarily perfect) little world you have created. Everyone “chooses” when to have a family, and to get a good education, and to prepare for the future. Just look at our current crisis. Somewhere out there is a middle class pregnant mom who thought she was all ready to go, then she (or hubby) lost her job due to the recession. They lose the house, the savings, the whole nine yards. I suppose you would blame her for not being proactive enough. You can cry socialist all you want, the fact is the US has a pathetic and DISCRIMINATORY policy toward maternity leave. Yes, it discriminates against women, creating an uneccesarily high Work-Family Conflict, which decreases a women’s ability to succeed in the workplace (look it up). The truth is, the US policy demonstrates shows us just where we stand. We are not a “family friendly” society. And if you want to compare costs, let’s look at real costs. Take breastfeeding for example. Shortened maternity leave dramatically decreases the women’s chances of breastfeeding past 6 months (APA recommends 1 year, most MD’s agree 2 years is ideal). Breastfeeding decreases infant mortality, allergies, asthma, diabetes, and later autoimmune disorders. Many doctors say, and I agree, that breastfeeding is linked to lower reproductive cancer rates. It also decreases the mom’s likelyhood of getting breast cancer. Apparently, the US government doesn’t care about helping kids and mothers be healthy OR about saving billions on treating preventable health issues. Of course, we should all know that by now because we spend WAY more on a terrible health care system than European countries do on outstanding ones (how much do you spend in co-pays and insurance per month? Not as much as you would probably pay in extra taxes for universal coverage.) But as usual, the egos in Washington can’t see the forest through the trees.

I’ve lived in the US and I’ve lived in Europe. I’ve been in hospitals in 7 different states and 4 different countries. We are the worst at health care and maternity leave, and we are paying MUCH more than our global neighbors. It’s time the US put parents and kids first. I think, and hope, Michelle Obama actually gets it and will continue to fight for families. We have socialized education, fire fighting, police, etc. It’s time everyone got the “choices” SKL speaks of. This country is far too great, far too powerful, and far too wealthy to continue to treat its parents and kids like third world citizens. We were built on freedom and opportunity, let’s give those ideals to our kids too.

I gotta say, I am just learning this now as I am planning a pregnancy and am appalled. My company, which is very large btw, only provides 2 weeks of paid time. Then you have to take vacation. That is absolutely horrible. I feel for the folks out there who get nothing. For the USA to have this policy and lack of caring towards families is truly an atrocity to the civilized world.

Nataly,
I completely agree with you. I am an immigrant to US too.
I come from country where maternity leave is one year.
Did you know that in Germany it is two years.
I am definately for government mandated maternity leave.
The problem is that I do not know if we can do much about it.
I am even for the mandated maternity leave where they don’t have to give you your full paycheck just the security of having your job back.
Rebeka
I like your blog.